This week has been heavy. Reflections on the death of our Lord. News of a dear dear friend back home going to be with Jesus. Thinking about the baby we lost who would have been born sometime around this week. Aching with the losses that our friends around us are grieving.

We have hope because of Christ's resurrection, and we celebrate that today. Hope that this life is not all that there is. Hope to see loved ones again in heaven some day. Hope that God is good and all-powerful over death. Hope in a new heaven and a new earth, where there is no more death or mourning or crying or pain, where every tear is wiped away.

Hope in Christ is the anchor for our souls. In spite of the sorrow around us, we can always have hope because of the gospel. Hope for new life.

Sakura are blooming in Japan right now, a reminder of spring and life and changing seasons and fleeting moments of beauty. We are reminded that our lives are brief and fleeting, like grass that withers or flowers that fade. It is what endures that gives us purpose. God, grant us the grace to live for what is unseen and eternal.

We recently celebrated another year of life for our little pint-sized missionary. Turning three means that Sam has lived for half of his life in Japan. TCKs ("Third Culture Kids") are described as growing up between worlds, and we definitely see our little guy picking up parts of both of our worlds.

1. He prefers drinking mugi cha (cold barley tea) over water or milk.2. When we go to a pizza buffet, he picks curry rice.3. When we go to a "Western" restaurant, he picks curry rice.4. He can say his colors in two languages, and he replies based on what language you use to ask him.5. He doesn't question why Curious George speaks English on our computer but Japanese on tv.6. When I tell him we're having friends over, he asks what language they speak.7. He corrects his grandparents' Japanese pronunciation (both those in the US and those in Japan)!8. He draws "maps," complete with local train tracks, express train tracks, our house, and America.9. He is completely baffled by the fact that America doesn't have bullet trains.10. Upon completing a puzzle of the USA, he asks where Japan is.11. Upon completing a puzze of Japan, he asks where the US is.12. He knows our train station and bus stop, but when we ask him where home is, all he says is "I don't know!"

We pray that his life is enriched by the experiences we have as a family here and by the unique joys of growing up overseas. We are thankful to see him thriving here and making friends. But just in case the challenges of belonging everywhere but nowhere at the same time get to be too much, maybe we should start saving for counseling...